Chopsticks

ABSTRACT

Chopsticks formed by two separate chopsticks that during their use are detachably joined to each other, whereby the combination thereof is formed by two blanks called the joint portion blank ( 1 ) and the picking portion blank ( 2 ). The invention is implemented through having the joint portion blank ( 1 ) fabricated by providing at least one of sticks with a notch ( 3 ) on which the other stick is superimposed thus allowing the sticks to function as pincer-like pair.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to chopsticks or pickers. In the text ofthis application, the term blank is used for making reference tochopsticks/pickers of different breadth and/or length.

Conventional chopsticks traditionally comprising separate sticks areclumsy to those not skilled in their use. Further, conventionalchopsticks/pincers of jointed or permanently fixed type have foundlimited use or required coupling the sticks to each other by means of athird, additional piece making the technical implementation clumsy andcostly (cf. GB Pat. No. 2,288,320A). The embodiment disclosed patentpublication PCT/GB97/01206 uses a joint whose structure is limiting tothe dimensions of the sticks, makes them wide and disadvantageouslydissimilar with each other. The structure of the joint limits the reachoffered to the user and weakens the strength of the sticks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide chopsticks or likeutensils that are free from the above-described drawbacks. Chopsticksaccording to the invention are characterized in that the joint portionblank is fabricated by providing at least one of the sticks with a notchon which the other stick is superimposed thus allowing the sticks tofunction as a pincer-like pair.

The pivot joint according to the invention facilitates the use of thesticks entirely separately, as a pair of separate sticks in the samemanner as conventional chopsticks or, through connecting two sticks bymeans of the pivot joint to each other, as squeezable pincers that evenan unskilled user finds easy to handle. In the pincer position, thepicking ends of the sticks open automatically when the squeezing actionof fingers is released, thus making it easy to use the jointedchopsticks for eating. The dimensions of the entire stick blank, itsjoint end and/or its picking end can be varied according to intended usethereby assuring a positive grip with the sticks on pieces and food ofdifferent nature and/or dimensions; examples of such pickers beingchopsticks, salad tongs and barbecue tongs. The structure and locationof the joint are nonlimiting to the shaping of the picking portion ofthe blanks. Advantageously, the chopstick pair is formed by two blankshaving an identical design of the joint portion, wherein other portionsof the chopstick pair can be shaped to meet the needs of the intendeduse without being limited by the design of the joint portion, thusmaking industrial production of the chopsticks easy and cost-efficient.The structural details of the joint portion allow relatively largemanufacturing tolerances. These improvements over the prior art can beattained according to the invention by virtue of a pivot joint thatfacilitates the connection of two separate blanks into a pincer-likepair, however, without limiting the use of the blanks as two separatepickers in the same fashion as conventional chopsticks or food tongs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

In the following, an embodiment of the chopstick according to theinvention will be described in more detail with reference to theattached drawings in which

FIG. 1 shows a side view of a chopstick;

FIG. 2 shows a top view of the chopstick;

FIG. 3 shows an end view of the chopstick;

FIG. 4 shows two chopsticks assembled into a pincer position;

FIG. 5 shows the pincer connection of the chopsticks released into theiropen position; and

FIG. 6 shows the pincer connection of the chopsticks pressed into theirpinching position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The blank (two chopsticks, for instance) is made from a homogeneousmaterial comprising a joint portion 1 and a picking portion 2.

The blank is formed by an elongated stick, rod or plate having a broadside 10 that is the wider side of the blank called the blank breadth andan edge side 9 that is the narrower side of the blank called the blankthickness. The joint portion 1 is formed by a notch 3 machined to theblank from its edge side 9 at such a distance from the blank end that aprojection 8 remains at the end of the joint portion 1 of the blank andby a longitudinal slit 4 made into the broad side 10 of the blank,starting from the bottom of the notch 3, perpendicular to the wallthereof, toward the tip of the picking portion 2, whereby a leaf spring6 is formed. Then, two blanks advantageously having identical shapes oftheir pivot joint portions 1 can be superimposed at the notches 3 sothat the blanks interleave with each other thus forming a pivoting jointthat connects the pair of blanks into a pincer-like combination. In thepinching position, the projection 8 of one blank meets the body of theother blank. When pressed into the pinching position, the structure ofthe joint portion 1 forces the picking portions 2 to meet each other.

The length of the notch 3 determines the mutual position/angle of theblanks when they are joined in their open position (see FIG. 5). Use ofthe blanks as a pincher-like pair keeps them connected to each other attheir opposed ends and pressing the sticks together makes the leafspring 6 to provide the opening counterforce, whereby releasing thesqueezing force causes the picking portions 2 to separate from eachother. Thus, the spring mechanism of the pivot joint automaticallyforces the picking portions 2 squeezed against each other (see FIG. 6)to open when the squeezing force is released.

Squeezing the blanks in their pinching position causes the leaf spring 6and, the body of the blank at the joint portion 1 to bend in separatedirections (see FIG. 6). The longitudinal slit 4 starts from the bottomof the notch 3 and extends in the longitudinal direction of the blanktoward the picking portion 2 with a maximally thin gap, whereby in thecase that the blank is narrow, the leaf spring 6 and the body of theblank have sufficient thickness to prevent the leaf spring 6 fromslipping into the longitudinal slit 4. The depth of the longitudinalslit 4 determines the stiffness of the leaf spring 6 thus controllingthe amount of squeezing force required to overcome the opening springforce. The design of the longitudinal slit 4 is capable of preventingsplitting of the blank and other breaks in certain materials such aswood. By providing a hole 5 at the end of the longitudinal slit 4 closerto the picking portion 2 or having a rounded shape of the bottom of thelongitudinal slit 4, splitting of the blank can be prevented moreeffective than by using a simple cut to make the longitudinal slit 4. Inthe use of the blanks as pincers, the blank breadth and the width of theleaf spring 6 eliminate uncontrolled movement of the blanks in thelateral direction.

The uncomplicated structure of the blanks facilitates their industrialmanufacture from different kinds of materials including, e.g., wood,metal or polymeric materials. While the blank is made from a homogeneousmaterial without additional components, the joint portion 1 may also befabricated separately, whereby they must be complemented with separatepicking portions 2.

What is claimed is:
 1. Chopsticks comprising two sticks each having ajoint portion and a picking portion, the sticks being detachably joinedto each other during their use, wherein the chopsticks are formed by ajoint portion blank and a picking portion blank, wherein the jointportion blank is fabricated by providing each stick with a notch at anessentially identical location having a bottom on which the sticks aresuperimposed allowing the sticks to function as a pincer-like pair, andwherein at least one stick further comprises a longitudinal slit havinga gap and extending from the bottom of the notch toward the pickingportion of the stick to form a leaf spring suitable for cooperation withthe other stick.
 2. The chopsticks according to claim 1, wherein thelongitudinal slit has a rounded bottom.
 3. The chopsticks according toclaim 1, wherein the longitudinal slit defines a hole towards thepicking portion of at least one stick, the hole having a diameter largerthan the gap of the longitudinal slit.
 4. The chopsticks according toclaim 1, wherein the sticks are made entirely from the same material. 5.The chopsticks according to claim 1, wherein each stick comprises anessentially identical longitudinal slit.
 6. The chopsticks according toclaim 5, wherein the longitudinal slit has a rounded bottom.
 7. Thechopsticks according to claim 5, wherein the longitudinal slit defines ahole towards the picking portion of at least one stick, the hole havinga diameter larger than the gap of the longitudinal slit.
 8. Thechopsticks according to claim 5, wherein the sticks are made entirelyfrom the same material.
 9. Chopsticks comprising two sticks each havinga joint portion and a picking portion, the sticks being detachablyjoined to each other during their use, wherein the chopsticks are formedby a joint portion blank and a picking portion blank, wherein the jointportion blank is fabricated by providing at least one of the sticks witha notch having a bottom on which the other stick is superimposedallowing the sticks to function as a pincer-like pair, and wherein eachstick further comprises an essentially identical longitudinal slithaving a gap and extending from the bottom of the notch toward thepicking portion of the stick to form a leaf spring suitable forcooperation with each stick.
 10. The chopsticks according to claim 9,wherein the longitudinal slit has a rounded bottom.
 11. The chopsticksaccording to claim 9, wherein the longitudinal slit defines a holetowards the picking portion of at least one stick, the hole having adiameter larger than the gap of the longitudinal slit.
 12. Thechopsticks according to claim 9, wherein the sticks are made entirelyfrom the same material.
 13. Chopsticks comprising two sticks each havinga joint portion and a picking portion, the sticks being detachablyjoined to each other during their use, wherein the chopsticks are formedby a joint portion blank and a picking portion blank, wherein the jointportion blank is fabricated by providing at least one of the sticks witha notch having a bottom on which the other stick is superimposed thusallowing the sticks to function as a pincer-like pair, and wherein atleast one stick further comprises a longitudinal slit having a gap andextending from the bottom of the notch toward the picking portion of thestick to form a leaf spring suitable for cooperation with the otherstick, the longitudinal slit further defining a hole towards the pickingportion, the hole having a diameter larger than the gap.
 14. Thechopsticks according to claim 13, wherein the sticks are made entirelyfrom the same material.